Quiet heroism in ‘Food Delivery Fresh from the West Philippine Sea’

Director Baby Ruth Villarama fights trolls and disinformation

- RICA AREVALO

Filmmaker Baby Ruth Villarama is making a David-versus-Goliath impact with her newest documentary, “Food Delivery Fresh From the West Philippine Sea.” The “small” production is an underdog, but the sold-out screenings at the Power Plant Mall, Makati City, last week proved otherwise.

With faith, Baby Ruth triumphed over the canceled release in CinePanalo, the request of the Chinese consulate in Auckland to cancel the screenings at the DockEdge Festival, New Zealand, and the trolls targeting her social media.

“I had to balance fear with faith,” says the Chevening scholar at Birmingham City University. “There were threats. There was trolling. There were long stretches at sea where we didn’t know what would happen.”

The filming started in October 2024, following Arnel Satam and Ozman Pumicpic. “I also had to navigate moments of self-doubt—asking, ‘Is it worth it?’”